Photographic printing frame



April 19, 1932. E. R SMITH PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING FRAME Filed July 6,1929 A T TORNE YS.

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Patented Apr. 19, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD B. SMITH, F BERKELEY,CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPI-IIC PRINTING FRAME Application filed July 6, 1929.Serial No. 376,421.

The present invention relates to improvements in photographic printingframes and its principal object is to provide a frame of the characterdescribed, which is particularly simple in construction and easy tooperate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a photographic printingframe in which retractable bolts are used for clamping the back upon theglass plate and in which a simac ple operating means is used forretracting the bolts, the said means being adapted to be used at thesame time for lifting the back from the plate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a photographic printingframe of the character described, in which the bolts are constructed andoperated in such a manner as to exert pressure on the back for clampingthe same upon the glass plate.

.1, Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thespecification proceeds.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in

. I; which Figure 1 shows a top plan view of my photographic printingframe; and

Figure 2, a section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

While I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, I wish tohave it understood that various changes or modifications may be madewithin the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing fromthe b5 spirit of the invention.

In its preferred form, my photographic printing frame comprises arectangular frame 1 made of suitable material and formed with an innerledge 2 adapted to receive the conventional glass plate 3. A back 4, ofsuitable material, 'is superimposed on the glass plate, it beingunderstood, of course, that the negative and the sensitized paper usedfor making photographic prints are interposed between the glass plateand the back.

In two opposing walls of the frame, there are formed two recesses 5,somewhat above the glass plate and arranged in opposing relation, theupper Walls of the recesses being tapered, as shown at 6.

The back 4 has mounted thereon two latch bolts 7 which are slidably heldin aligned relation in bearings 8, two bearings being pro vided for eachbolt. The latter are preferably made to comprise a shank 9 and an endpiece of somewhat larger dimension 10 adapted to enter the recesses 5and formed with tapers 11 adapted to ride against the tapered upperwalls of the recesses. Springs 12 encircle the shanks 9 between the twobearings and urge the end pieces into the recesses.

The inner ends of the shanks 9 have con fronting operating pieces 13fastened thereto, the operating members preferably being made in theform of small bars rising from the shanks so as to allow an operator togrip the two bars between his thumb and his forefinger for pressing thesame together against the opposition of the springs and for therebyAfter the two bars 13 have been drawn together, they may be used aslifting means for the back so that the operator can perform the twofunctions of drawing the bolts together and of lifting the back in asingle operation with one hand and without the necessity of changing hishold.

The advantages of my invention will be readily understood from theforegoing description.

To insert the back, the operator grips the two bars 13 with his thumband forefinger and pulls the same together, whereby the bolts areretracted and brought within the confines of the frame. Maintaining hishold, the operator lifts the back and lowers the same into the frame,whereupon he releases his hold, which causes the springs to advance thebolts into the recesses and to clamp the back upon the glass plate, orrather the negative, and sensitized paper interposed between the glassplate and the back.

For removing the back, the operator again draws the two bars 13 togetherby the aid of his thumb and forefinger, and without changing his hold,lifts the back out of the frame.

t should be understood that variations may be introduced into thisdevice without changing the principle of the invention. The

withdrawing the bolts from the recesses.

back, for instance, may be made of spring material and slightly concave,particularly in larger frames, so that additional spring pressure willbe exerted on the same when 5 the sides are depressed by the engagementof the bolts with the frame wall. The back may also be made in twosections, hinged together along a central line with a pair of boltsprovided for each section.

I claim:

1. A photographic printing device comprising a frame formed with aninner ledge and recesses formed in the confronting sides of the framewith inclined upper faces, a

transparent member adapted to rest on the ledge, a back adapted tooverlie the member, retractable bolts carried by the back having tapereden ls movable into the recesses against the inclined faces of the latterfor pressing the back toward the transparent member, brackets encirclingthe bolts allowing the latter to freely slide therein, springsencircling the bolts urging the bolts into engagement with the frame,and finger gripping pieces anchored to the adjacent ends of the boltsallowing the latter to be withdrawn from the'frame and the bacl: to belifted in a single operation.

2. A photographic printing device comprising a frame formed with aninner ledge and recesses formed in the confronting sides of the framewith inclined upper faces, a transparent member adapted to rest on theledge, a back adapted to overlie the member,

retractable bolts carried by the back having tapered ends movable intothe recesses against the inclined faces of the latter for pressing theback toward the transparent member, brackets encircling the boltsallowing the latter to freely slide therein, springs encircling thebolts urging the bolts into engagement with the frame, and fingergripping pieces anchored to the adjacent ends of the bolts allowing thelatter to be withdrawn from the frame and the back to be lifted in a.single operation, said bolts and finger pieces being arranged within theconfines of the frame when the back is secured in active position.EDWARD B. SMITH.

